FangShi 3D Printing Cube 4x4x4 Mirror

FangShi 3D Printing Cube 4x4x4 Mirror

FangShi 3D Printing Cube 4x4x4 Mirror is a 4x4 mirror cube. It works just like the classic Mirror Cube 3x3: all faces are the same colour, and the pieces differ in thickness. Once scrambled, the cube loses its cubic shape and turns into a solid with uneven steps. When solving, you go by the shape and height of the pieces, not by colours. As the name suggests, the pieces are made with 3D printing technology. Puzzles like this are produced in small batches, not mass-produced like typical injection-moulded cubes.

What makes it challenging

The 4x4 mirror is harder than the 3x3 version. There are no fixed centres, so you can't determine the cube's orientation from a single centre piece. You have to work out the order of the centres from their thickness. When pairing edges, you match them by feeling the shape, and at the end you face the parities known from the 4x4, which are harder to spot quickly on a cube without colours. If you can't solve a regular 4x4 with the reduction method, getting started will be very tough, so it's worth mastering the standard 4x4 and the Mirror 3x3 first.

Build and turning

This is a collector's puzzle, not a speedcubing cube. The 3D-printed pieces have a different texture from the smooth plastic of flagship cubes. When scrambled, the layers differ in size, so the cube won't turn as lightly as a magnetic 4x4 speed cube. It's best to turn it calmly and without force, especially when the shape is heavily deformed. This turning style also suits the way you solve it: here you think more than you turn.

Who is it for?

For cubers who already know the 4x4 and the Mirror 3x3 and want a harder shape-shifting puzzle. Collectors of shape mods will like it too: the black body with silver stickers looks great on a shelf, both solved and scrambled. For a first mirror cube, or as a gift for a child who is just starting out, the Mirror Cube 3x3 is a better choice.

Specifications

• Type: 4x4x4 mirror puzzle (shape-shifting, shape mod)
• Manufacturer: FangShi
• Build: 3D-printed pieces
• Size: approx. 56 mm (when solved)
• Colour: black body, silver stickers (Black/silver)